Underground 4 by Janelle Stalder Page B

trouble.
    “Boys,” she said with a smile, covering her unease with her usual bravado. She didn't feel it though. Not at all.
    “Don't give us any trouble, Red,” one said. “Boss wants you to come with us.”
    She gulped, hoping they wouldn't notice. “Where are we off to?”
    “No questions,” the other barked. He reached down to release her from the shackles before grabbing her arm in a firm hold.
    “Easy there, tiger,” she said, trying to loosen his hold slightly. “You're not afraid of a wee girl like me, are you?” She batted her lashes at him.
    “Nice try, sweetheart,” he said, clearly unaffected.
    “Just walk, Red,” the other one urged, grabbing her other arm. “No shenanigans.”
    She pouted. “You guys suck all the fun out of everything. Shenanigans are what I do best.”
    The goons hustled her into a small room with only a desk and two chairs on either side. A single light hung above, casting shadows along the outside walls. It stank like stale sweat, and if she wasn't mistaken, dried blood. A few stains on the concrete floors had her swallowing nervously. It didn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out what happened in this room.
    Why they needed such a place in a fighting ring, she didn't know. But she did know it didn't bode well for her. Neither man spoke as they turned and left, shutting the door behind them. Phoenix looked around, hating the small confines of the room. It was even worse than her cell in some ways, though it was cleaner and not as dark and damp. Her palms were sweating, giving away just how nervous she was.
    “This blows,” she said with a sigh, plopping down on one of the chairs. She couldn't even comprehend how much trouble she was in at this point. Here she’d thought having to go into the ring was going to be bad. Little did she know she'd face a bigger problem before she’d even had to fight. If only there was a window.
    Looking up at the ceiling, she wondered if it was possible to dig her way out. She chuckled at the impossibility of it all, and yet she still tried to think of a way to make it work. The door opened again, startling her. Trent was roughly pushed in before it was slammed again, leaving the two of them alone.
    “Geez, hot shot,” she said lazily, smiling to cover up her fear. “If you wanted some alone-time, you could have just told me.”
    He gave her a hard stare, not playing along. Phoenix dropped her eyes, knowing he could probably read her emotions there. She hated seeming weak in front of anyone. She couldn't help but be afraid though, especially with Missy being here. It wasn't just about her anymore. Phoenix had spent her life keeping her sister safe, and now she wasn't sure there was anything she could really do to help any of them.
    “Come here, Phoenix,” Trent said in a hoarse voice. Her name on his lips had tears springing into her eyes and she didn't know why.
    Without hesitating, Phoenix got up and walked into his open arms. Smothering her face in his wide chest, she breathed in his scent, letting his strength comfort her as his arms wrapped around to hold her tight. One of his hands reached up to hold the back of her head gently. She heard him sigh as he rested his cheek on her.
    “Everything is going to be fine, you'll see,” he said.
    She laughed humorlessly. “We both know that's bullshit,” she replied.
    “Maybe, but you're not one to just give up and neither am I, so don't start now.”
    She took a deep breath. He was right. She was the leader of the fucking badass Archers. No one brought her down. Standing up straighter, she looked up into those ocean-blue eyes, taking whatever extra strength she could from knowing he was right here beside her for this. A cut on his lip was still bleeding, looking painful. She reached up to wipe at it.
    “We'll get out of here, and then the two of us are going to get in your bed and have some fun for once,” he said.
    A surprised laugh escaped her as she arched her eyebrows at him.